Stay updated with breaking news from Heather borowiak. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Edwards County Commissioners met yesterday in front of a large crowd of concerned farmers. They held discussions on solar farming, as solar energy company Ecoplexus talking about wording for upcoming solar farm regulation requirements. Commissioners have considered adopting a 500-foot setback from nearby residences to protect homeowners close to nearby solar power farms; currently, this would allow for 164 megawatts of power, and real estate taxes could increase from $425 for 40 acres used for solar farms to an estimated $26,000. The Albion City Council met last night. It heard the EPA has denied a compliance request for additional time to design a water treatment plant, but a meeting is scheduled for later this week to discuss the plant with the EPA. The council also heard Treasurer Sidney Gracyalny and Alderwoman Heather Borowiak will be leaving their positions in August and September, respectively. City Attorney Brian Shinkle asked for permission to file a breach of contract lawsuit ....
The Edwards County Board of Education will meet tonight at 7 in the ECHS Atelier Room 172 for a reorganization meeting. Judge Michael Valentine will administer the Board Member Oath of Office after the official election results are accepted, and the board will then elect a new President, Vice President, and Secretary to two year terms. The new board will also consider the employment of an ECHS boys basketball coach. No injuries were reported in a two-vehicle accident at the New Hope Curve Friday afternoon. According to police reports, 79-year-old Burnt Prairie resident George E. Vines and 79-year-old Mill Shoals resident Patricia K. Vaught were northbound on Highway 45. Vines was driving a 2014 Ford Escape and slowed to turn onto a county road, and Vaught, driving a 2015 Ford Taurus, rear-ended him. No tow truck was called to the scene, but the vehicles sustained over $1,500 damage. ....
Mike Dreith was elected Fairfield Mayor last night, defeating Teresa Robinson and Nate McGaha. Dreith collected a total of 762 votes. His opponents had 302 and 48, respectively, after unofficial totals. In Cisne, Roy Atwood was re-elected Mayor, defeating Ken Neff and Christy King. Atwood had 77 votes compared to 68 and six from his opponents. Fairfield’s Alderman races were tightly contested, with one still up in the air. In Ward 2, Larry Vest, Angel Maguire, and Clifford Reever each had 58 votes. County Clerk Liz Ann Woodrow says three mail-in ballots remain at large. Dewey Eckleberry defeated Cody Attebury in Ward 1, Eugene McGill defeated Dick Clark in Ward 3, and Terry Stahl beat challenger Ed Prince in Ward 4. In Albion, the only contested race was for Ward 1, where Heather Borowiak defeated Levi Fenton. ....
Lora Smith has been selected as the new Executive Director of the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission, which serves Crawford, Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White counties. Smith will be responsible for the management of all planning and administrative tasks for the Commission, and she comes to it with experience in grants and higher education. The Fairfield PaintOut is accepting up to 10 photos per person of county scenery for this fall’s PaintOut. Artists will choose one photo to recreate in a painting that will be available at the art show and sale in October, and any photographer with a photo chosen will receive $20 in Chamber Bucks, with a limit of three per person. Photos can be submitted to [email protected]. ....